CTS Ready To Run Sale: Rare Opportunities Await Buyers

Once in a blue moon, rare opportunities come along in the bloodstock market, but they are often overlooked for that very reason – they present themselves under the radar and are gone before you know it! There are, however, a few “shrewdies” in town who will be bidding on the progeny of multiple English Group winner and TF 126-rated Await The Dawn (USA) at the CTS Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, scheduled for 24 and 25 November at the Randjesfontein Training Centre in Midrand.

— Turf Talk

A son of Giant’s Causeway, Await The Dawn was a beautiful, young bay horse who stood for less than two years at Summerhill Stud before he died of a heart attack in October 2014, doing what proper stallions do. He threw himself at his mares with workmanlike abandon, perhaps on the fateful day of his death just one passionate grunt and a pointed push too many!

The fact that Await The Dawn’s father was recently rated the 5th leading stallion of all time by TDN and that, as a racehorse, Await The Dawn was superbly performed at Group level are not the only reasons he was highly regarded.

At the time of his death, stallion master Greig Muir commented: “You spend your life looking for a horse like Await The Dawn, who pulverised top-class opposition with uncommon ease.

“He was booked to capacity on the strength of both his own great appeal and a fantastic first crop of foals. He was as fertile a horse as I worked with, and I guess his unusually large heart was a contributing factor to a stellar career.

“There’s no replacing an Await The Dawn, but at least we’ll have some terrific foals to remember him by.”

Summerhill’sTarryn Liebenberg said of the 23 Await The Dawn two-year-olds at the sale: “I think buyers will be surprised with what they’ll see. The Await The Dawn’s were withdrawn from the Yearling Sales earlier this year because they didn’t reach their prices. They were immature and lacked substance.

“Now, months later, it’s a different kettle of fish. They are maturing beautifully and are great-looking, classic-types – big, tall and lanky like their dad. They’re strong and they move very well too, many of them with Await The Dawn’s big stride.”

Liebenberg’s personal picks among the colts are Lots 61, 99 and 205, while Lot 38 is her favourite among the fillies.